BANNERED by veterans Jannil Cañete and Alfie Cabañog, the Pilipinas Warriors scored two victories but dropped one match last Saturday to enter the quarterfinals of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation Asia 3×3 meet in Hangzhou, China.
The PH wheelchair cagers prevailed over Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong 17-7 and 12-5, respectively, but lost 8-12 to Southeast Asian powerhouse Thailand in the meet held at the Zhejiang Disabled Sports Center.
“We are now in second place with a 2-2 win-loss record behind China (3-0) so we will advance to the quarterfinals,” said national wheelchair basketball coach Vernon Perea in a text message yesterday.
Perea said that the national women’s basketball squad lost all of its four matches last Saturday: 2-9 to Australia, 2-19 to Cambodia, 3-13 to Beijing, China, 3-18 to Guangdong, China and 3-17 to Japan.
The bespectacled mentor was pleased by the performance of the Pilipinas Warriors, saying: “I am happy with the men’s team. The only one left in our 3×3 team is Cabañog, the other 3 are new. Two of them are from the youth team who played last November in the IWBF world qualifying tournament.
“We are preparing the youth team for the Dubai Asian Youth Para games 3×3 competitions in December.”
Meanwhile, the Philippine Paralympic Committee and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas signed an agreement last week to promote and develop wheelchair basketball across the country.
The agreement was signed at the SBP headquarters in Mandaluyong City by PPC president Mike Barredo and SBP executive director Erika Dy and witnessed by PPC secretary general Goody Custodio.
The strategic partnership aims to foster cooperation between the two organizations in advancing opportunities for differently-abled athletes, coaches, and officials in the sport of basketball, PPC and SBP officials said.
“This partnership is a commitment to inclusivity, national development, and the transformative power of basketball,” said Dy. “SBP is proud to stand with the PPC in creating platforms where every athlete, regardless of ability, has the chance to excel in the sport of basketball.”
“With the SBP support, we will now be able to promote wheelchair basketball better all across the nation,” Barredo stressed.
Under the agreement, the SBP will provide access to professional training and development opportunities for wheelchair basketball coaches, as well as support for events, clinics, and tournaments.
Both parties have committed to co-develop and manage inclusive programs, enhance access to basketball venues, and jointly promote wheelchair basketball as a vital part of the country’s basketball ecosystem, a joint PPC-SBP statement said.
